Automatic control of a continuous digester, including level, concentration, and flow meters

ABSTRACT

In a continuous digester which has a boiler with a rotatable bottom scraper and a chip and lye inflow at the top as well as a wash inflow into and a pulp outflow from the boiler, the concentration at the pulp outflow is measured and is used to control the rotation of the scraper so as to maintain a constant concentration of the outgoing pulp. A flow meter at the pulp outflow controls a throttle valve to regulate the outflow. The liquid in the top of the digester is measured and is used to control the devices which feed chips to the digester. Measurement of the pressure in the digester is used to control the flow of black liquor at the chip and lye inflow. The chips are fed in by a chip screw which in turn is fed by a segmental wheel, and the speeds of the chip screw and segmental wheel are maintained proportional to each other.

United States Patent Olson Aug. 5, 1975 [5 1 AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF A 3.097.987 7/1963 Sloman l62/l7 CONTINUOUS DIGESTER INCLUDING 3.429.773 2/l969 Richter .1 l62/237 LEVEL, CONCENTRATION, AND FLOW FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS METERS 188.115 3/!964 Sweden 162/237 [75] Inventor: Torbjorn Olson, Vusteras, Sweden [73] Assignee: Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget, Vasteras. Sweden [22] Filed: May 7, I974 [2]] Appl. No: 468,061

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 301.743. Oct. 30. I972.

abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 18, l97| Sweden [4737/71 [52] U.S. Cl. .1 162/238; 162/243; 162/263 [5 l] Int. Cl. D21c 7/12 [58] Field of Search l62/238, 237. 243, 263, l62/l 7 {56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.938.824 5/l960 Richter .1 162/237 X Primary ExaminerS. Leon Bashore Assistant ExuminerRichard V. Fisher (5 7] ABSTRACT In a continuous digester which has a boiler with a rotatable bottom scraper and a chip and lye inflow at the top as well as a wash inflow into and a pulp outflow from the boiler. the concentration at the pulp outflow is measured and is used to control the rotation of the scraper so as to maintain a constant concentration of the outgoing pulp. A flow meter at the pulp outflow controls a throttle valve to regulate the outflow. The liquid in the top of the digester is measured and is used to control the devices which feed chips to the digester. Measurement of the pressure in the digester is used to control the flow of black liquor at the chip and lye inflow. The chips are fed in by a chip screw which in turn is fed by a segmental wheel. and the speeds of the chip screw and segmental wheel are maintained proportional to each other.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 5197s HlLlJf/JHJ.

70 13/655 T5, TOP

AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF A CONTINUOUS DIGESTER. INCLUDING LEVEL, CONCENTRATION, AND FLOW METERS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In continuous digesters used up to now. such as sul- This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 301,743 5 phate digEsters (FIG- Chips mixed with white liquor filed Oct. 30. I972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an arrangement in a continuous digester. for example a continuous sulphate digester. Such an arrangement comprises a boiler with a rotatable bottom scraper or similar feeding-outdevice at the bottom and with chip and lye inflow at the boiler and wash liquor inflow to and pulp outflow from said boiler at the bottom.

2. The Prior Art In continuous digesters used heretofore such as sulphate digesters. chips mixed with white liquor and black liquor. that is. white liquor plus compounds released from pulp wood, have been led to a boiler from an inflow. During stationary operation it is difficult to measure the moisture content in the incoming chip flow. Chips are supplied in a constant flow along with white liquor and black liquor. Wash liquor is also supplied in variable amounts. controlled by a throttle valve which is regulated by the pressure in the digester.

The outgoing plug from the digester has a varying concentration which it is difficult to measure so that it is difficult to obtain a constant concentration in the output.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is intended as a solution to these and other related problems and is characterised in that a concentration meter is arranged at the pulp outflow. the output signal of which is arranged to control the speed of the bottom scraper. in order to obtain a constant concentration for the outgoing pulp. and that a flow meter. known per se. is arranged at the pulp out flow. the output signal of which is transmitted over a regulator to a control device for a throttle valve at the pulp outflow. Since both the wash liquor (water black liquor) and the feedingout of pulp are constantly regulated. no disturbances occur here from the bottom of the digester to the digester top and a stable control process is obtained.

In a preferred embodiment, the digester pressure is measured with a pressure measuring device. the output signal of which is arranged to control the black liquor flow to the inflow at the digester top. In this way, it has been found that an automatic compensation is obtained of the varying liquid flow which derives its origin from varying chip moisture content. and thus this previously awkward factor of uncertainty has been compensated for.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I shows diagrammatically the system utilized in the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic system embodying the invention; and

FIG. 3 shows a chip feeding device.

(Na OH Na ,S) and black liquor, that is. white liquor plus compounds released from pulp wood, have been led to a boiler II in an inflow. During stationary operation it is difficult to measure the moisture content in the incoming chip flow (at I2). Chips are supplied in a constant flow at I3, white liquor at 14 and a constant flow of black liquor at IS. in another part of the digester. wash liquor is supplied in varying degree (at 16). the pressure in the digester being measured at 17, and the output signal of the measuring device 17 controlling a throttle valve 18 in the wash liquo'r pipe I6.

There are also other inflows to the digester. but they have been omitted since they are of no importance to the object of the invention or the prior art.

The outgoing pulp from the digester (at 19) has a varying concentration. and since it has been difficult up to now to measure this concentration it has also be difficult to obtain a constant concentration in this outflow I9. The pressure regulating circuit 16-18, which is placed at the digester bottom. is supplied. as mentioned before, with a varying amount of wash liquor depending on the digester pressure (at 17).

Attempts are made to keep the amount of chips to the digester (at 13) and the amount of pulp from the digester (at I9) constant with the help of flow regulating devices. Attempts have been made to keep the chip level in the digester lI constant with the help ofa rotatable bottom scraper 20, the number of revolutions of which can be varied. The speed of the bottom scraper 20 affects the concentration of the outgoing pulp. The scraper 20 is driven slowly by means of a motor (not shown). and the speed of the scraper 20 can be varied. either by means of an intermediate gear or by means of speed control on the motor. The level is measured with a level meter 2I at the upper part of the digester II.

This method of trying to keep the concentration of the outgoing pulp constant does not work very well because of the dynamic properties of the digester. and in spite of the fact that the flow in measured (at 22) and the amount of pulp from the digester is controlled. It takes 7-12 minutes for a change in the speed of the bottom scraper to manifest itself in a changed level at the top of the digester, and therefore this regulating circuit has less satisfactory properties with inferior fluid balance as a result. Because of the inferior fluid balance in the digester II, an up-stream of hot liquor occurs regularly from the boiling zone 23 and upwards, and this disturbs the process and deteriorates the final product.

In FIG. 2 a digester 23 having a rotatable bottom scraper 24 with variable speed is shown. The variable speed of the scraper is obtained from the drive device over a variable gear. and the drive device can also be speed controlled. Element 25 is a regulator for gearing or speed control. A concentration meter 27 is placed in the outflow pipe for finished pulp 26, for example a concentration meter of the kind manufactured by A B KALLE REGULATOR. A customary flow meter 28 is also placed in the outflow pipe. said flow meter controlling a throttle valve 29 for the pulp flow. Wash liquor (water black liquor) is supplied in constant quantity at the lower part of the digester 23 (at 30).

A pressure meter 31 at the boiling zone of the di gester 23 measures the digester pressure. and its output signals are transmitted to a control valve 32 for black liquor. Chips are supplied through a feeding device 34 and white liquor is supplied at 33.

FIG. 3 shows the segmental wheel 4] and the cooking vessel 36 with a chip screw 37 driven by a motor 38. Chips are fed from the screw to a chip chute 39. and a mixture of chips and lye is fed through a highpressure crock 40 to the digester top. where white and black liquor are further fed, according to FIG. 2. Part 34 in FIG. 2 corresponds to the elements shown in FIG. 3. The control is made with the motor 38 or a gear close to the motor. The speed of the chip screw 37 is altered proportionally to the speed of the cell wheel 4]. In the space containing the chip screw 37, that is the cooking vessel, the chips stay for about minutes. and if an attempt were made to control the flow to the digester by controlling the segmental wheel 41, the through transport delay would be great. This is now avoided by controlling the speed of the chip screw.

A level meter is arranged to control the chip feeding. so that a constant chip level is easily obtained in the digester. while compensation for varying chip moisture content is also obtained through the black liquor control.

The above-mentioned arrangement is also applicable in the case of continuous digesters with a separate impregnation zone (the impregnation zone is the part which corresponds to the upper part of the digester described).

The invention may be varied in many ways within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

I. A continuous digester comprising a boiler with a rotatable bottom scraper with a drive motor. chips and lye inflow at the top of the boiler. wash liquor inflow means to the bottom ofthe boiler. and the pulp outflow means from the bottom ofthe boiler, said digester comprising:

a. a level meter for measuring the liquid level in the top of the digester, chip feeding means connected to the chip inflow means. and means responsive to the output signal of said level meter to control the Chip feeding means;

b. a concentration meter in the pulp outflow means. means for controlling the drive motor. said motor controlling means including means responsive to a signal from the concentration meter to regulate the speed of the scraper to maintain a predetermined concentration of the outgoing pulp; and

c. a flow meter and a throttle valve in the pulp outflow means, and means responsive to the flow meter for controlling the throttle valve to obtain a predetermined outflow for the outgoing pulp.

2. A continuous digester according to claim 1, having the concentration and flow meters arranged in series in the pulp outflow means.

3. A continuous digester according to claim I, having a pressure measuring device associated with the digester for measuring its pressure. and means responsive to the output signal of said pressure measuring device for controlling the flow of black liquor at the chip and lye inflow means.

4. A continuous digester according to claim I, in which said means for controlling the throttle valve includes means to maintain a constant outflow for the outgoing pulp. 

1. A CONTINUOUS DIGESTER COMPRISING A BOILER WITH A ROTATABLE BOTTOM SCRAPER WITH A DRIVE MOTOR CHIPS AND LYE INFLOW AT THE TOP OF THE BOILER WASH LIQUOR INFLOW MEANS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOILER AND THE PULP OUTFLOW MEANS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BOILER SAID DIEGESTER COMPRISING: A. A LEVEL METER FOR MEASURING THE LIQUID LEVEL IN THE TOP OF THE DIGESTER CHIP FEEDING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE CHIP INFLOW MEANS AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE OUTPUT SIGNAL OF SAID LEVEL METER TO CONTROL THE CHIP FEEDING MEANS, B. A CONCENTRATION METER IN THE PULP OUTFLOW MEANS MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE DRIVE MOTOR SAID MOTOR CONTROLLING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A SIGNAL FROM THE CONCENTRATION METER TO REGULATE THE SPEED OF THE SCRAPER TO MAINTAIN A PREDETERMINED CONCENTRATION OF THE OUTGOING PULP AND C. A FLOW METER AND A THROTTLE VALVE IN THE PULP OUTFLOW MEANS AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE FLOW METER FOR CONTROLLING THE THROTTLE VALVE TO OBTAIN A PREDETERMINED OUTFLOW FOR THE OUTGOING PULP.
 2. A continuous digester according to claim 1, having the concentration and flow meters arranged in series in the pulp outflow means.
 3. A continuous digester according to claim 1, having a pressure measuring device associated with the digester for measuring its pressure, and means responsive to the output signal of said pressure measuring device for controlling the flow of black liquor at the chip and lye inflow means.
 4. A continuous digester according to claim 1, in which said means for controlling the throttle valve includes means to maintain a constant outflow for the outgoing pulp. 